Maoist rebels killed a Congress worker, looted three Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), dug up roads and laid landmines and resorted to firing at many places in Naxalite-infested South Bastar on Thursday, a day before the first phase of polling in 39 Assembly segments of Chhattisgarh.

Police sources said Congress worker Trinath Thakur was shot at Gadapal village, under Kuakonta police station area, in Dantewada-ST constituency. He died on the spot while other party workers escaped unhurt.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr Alok Shukla said the Maoist rebels snatched three EVMs from the poll parties, who were trekking down to polling stations at Porjem, Maruki and Mankapal in Konta Assembly segment of South Bastar. However, the rebels did not harm the poll parties and they were let off with a warning not to go for poll duty.

Dr Shukla said separate polling parties were sent to these polling stations. He said polling parties were not dispatched to seven polling centres in Bijapur district because of security reasons. “They will reach their destinations on Friday morning,” he said, refusing to divulge which these centres were.

Meanwhile, police sources in Bastar said the rebels had dug up even main roads at many places in the division, apparently to lay landmines. Ten kilograms of crude tiffin bombs were recovered from a village in South Bastar. Rebels also opened fire at a patrolling party at Takilodh and Haloor villages in Bijapur. CPI (Maoist) has given a boycott call for the elections in Bastar, where polling in 12 constituencies is scheduled for Friday.